About Cubic Zirconia

Cubic Zirconia, or cz is a simulated diamond. They surfaced in the mid 1970's and were used as an inexpensive sustitute for real diamonds.

Cubic Zirconia Jewelry is now mainstream, offering high end looks at affordable prices. When first developed, cz's were only available in clear. Today cz's are available in a wide range of beautiful colors.

A Cubic Zirconia is the closest material matching the characteristics of a natural diamond. To the un-trained eye Cubic Zirconias are virtually impossible to tell apart from expensive, naturally occurring Diamonds. However, there are subtle differences that set the two apart. Cubic Zirconias are slightly softer than natural diamonds. Cz's register 8.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, while diamonds register a 10, (glass is 6.5)

They have less brilliance (sparkle), but contain more fire (rainbows) than natural diamonds. Cubic Zirconias are machine cut to same exacting tolerances as natural diamonds. Lika a diamond, cz's can be cut into a variety of shapes and sizes as shown in the Gemstone Chart